Plans To Block Joe Ghartey�s Nomination Is A Bad Start � Mensah Bonsu

Minority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has cautioned that the Majority�s attempt to block the nomination of Joe Ghartey as 2nd Deputy Speaker will not auger well for consensus building in the House. The Majority is sponsoring the PNC�s Alhassan Azong for the position. MP-elect for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has stated that the Minority�s complacent disposition towards the election of John Mahama as President automatically makes them an enemy of the state. Mr. Mensah Bonsu told Citi News, the Majority�s position will not be helpful. �Our declared intent not to participate in the swearing in activities of candidate John Mahama, they are also saying that they are also going to resort to that process. We think that it is not good for consensus in the House but they have the Majority at least for now, if that is what they want to do. Normally, they would even dialogue; they have not given us any indication.� He accused the Majority of saturating the airways and their intention to sponsor a candidate; �we live to see. We still have some days so let�s see what happens. If it still happens that they are still bent on doing that, they have the majority but they will realize that they will be starting this Parliament off in a very raucous note.� He however added that Mr. Ablakwa�s argument against Joe Ghartey does not hold saying, �he is comparing apples to oranges. The Executive is not Parliament, the Presidency is Parliament. In Parliament, we have our rules; if they want to transpose the Executive on the Legislature that is worrying because the two are separate institutions.� In a related development, the Minority in Parliament is hopeful the proposed Speaker for the 6th Parliament, Doe Adjaho will not be extremely partisan. Reports have it that the MP-elect for Ave-Avenor, Doe Adjaho who is the First Deputy Speaker for the current Parliament has been nominated for the position of Speaker for the 6th Parliament which commences on Monday.